Pride and infidelity have barred that Way (of repentance) in such wise that he (the sinner) cannot utter a sigh.

گفت اغلالا فهم به مقمحون ** نیست آن اغلال بر ما از برون‌‌

He (God) said, “(We have put on their necks) shackles (chin-high), and thereby they are forced to lift up their heads”: those shackles are not (put) on us from outside.

خلفهم سدا فأغشیناهم ** می‌‌نبیند بند را پیش و پس او

“(And We have put) behind them a barrier, and We have made a covering (of darkness) over them”: he is not seeing the barrier in front (of him) and behind.

رنگ صحرا دارد آن سدی که خاست ** او نمی‌‌داند که آن سد قضاست‌‌

The barrier that arose has the appearance of open country: he does not know that it is the barrier of the Divine destiny.

شاهد تو سد روی شاهد است ** مرشد تو سد گفت مرشد است‌‌3245

Your (earthly) beloved is a barrier to the face of the (Divine) Beloved: your (worldly) guide is a barrier to the words of the (true spiritual) guide.

ای بسا کفار را سودای دین ** بندشان ناموس و کبر آن و این‌‌

Oh, many are the infidels that have a passionate longing for the Religion (Islam): their chain (stumbling-block) is reputation and pride in this and that (object of desire).

بند پنهان لیک از آهن بتر ** بند آهن را کند پاره تبر

The chain is hidden. but ’tis worse than iron: the iron chain is cut in pieces by the axe.

بند آهن را توان کردن جدا ** بند غیبی را نداند کس دوا

The iron chain can be removed: none knows how to cure the invisible chain.

مرد را زنبور اگر نیشی زند ** طبع او آن لحظه بر دفعی تند

If a man is stung by a wasp, at that moment his nature is intent on a means of removing (the pain),

زخم نیش اما چو از هستی تست ** غم قوی باشد نگردد درد سست‌‌3250

But since the stinging wound is from (inflicted by) your self-existence, the pain continues with violence and the anguish is not relieved.

شرح این از سینه بیرون می‌‌جهد ** لیک می‌‌ترسم که نومیدی دهد

The (full) explanation of this (matter) is springing forth (seeking to escape) from my breast, but I am afraid it may give (you cause to) despair.

نی مشو نومید و خود را شاد کن ** پیش آن فریادرس فریاد کن‌‌

Nay, do not despair: make yourself cheerful, call for help to Him who comes at the call,

کای محب عفو از ما عفو کن ** ای طبیب رنج ناسور کهن‌‌

Saying, “Forgive us, O Thou who lovest to forgive, O Thou who hast a medicine for the old gangrenous disease!”

عکس حکمت آن شقی را یاوه کرد ** خود مبین تا بر نیارد از تو گرد

The reflexion of Wisdom led astray that miserable one (the Prophet's scribe): be not self-conceited, lest it (your self-conceit) raise up the dust from you (utterly destroy you).

ای برادر بر تو حکمت جاریه ست ** آن ز ابدال است و بر تو عاریه ست‌‌3255

O brother, Wisdom is flowing in upon you: it comes from the Abdál, and in you it is (only) a borrowed thing.

گر چه در خود خانه نوری یافته ست ** آن ز همسایه‌‌ی منور تافته ست‌‌

Although the house (your heart) has found a light within it, that (light) has shone forth from an illumined neighbour.

شکر کن غره مشو بینی مکن ** گوش دار و هیچ خود بینی مکن‌‌

Render thanks, be not beguiled by vanity, do not turn up your nose (in disdain), hearken attentively, and do not show any self-conceit.

صد دریغ و درد کاین عاریتی ** امتان را دور کرد از امتی‌‌

’Tis a hundred pities and griefs that this borrowed (unreal) state (of self-assertion) has put the religious communities far from religious communion.

من غلام آن که او در هر رباط ** خویش را واصل نداند بر سماط

I am the (devoted) slave of him who does not regard himself in every caravanseray (at every stage in his spiritual progress) as having attained to (the privilege of sitting at) the table (of union with God).

بس رباطی که بباید ترک کرد ** تا به مسکن در رسد یک روز مرد3260

Many is the caravanseray that must be quitted, in order that one day the man may reach home.

گر چه آهن سرخ شد او سرخ نیست ** پرتو عاریت آتش زنی است‌‌

Though the iron has become red, it is not red (by nature): it (the redness) is a ray borrowed from something that strikes fire.

گر شود پر نور روزن یا سرا ** تو مدان روشن مگر خورشید را

If the window or the house is full of light, do not deem aught luminous except the sun.

هر در و دیوار گوید روشنم ** پرتو غیری ندارم این منم‌‌

Every door and wall says, “I am luminous: I do not hold the rays of another, I (myself) am this (light).”

پس بگوید آفتاب ای نارشید ** چون که من غارب شوم آید پدید

Then the sun says, “O thou who art not right (in thy belief), when I set ’twill become evident (thou wilt see what the truth is).”

سبزه‌‌ها گویند ما سبز از خودیم ** شاد و خندانیم و بس زیبا خدیم‌‌3265

The plants say, “We are green of ourselves, we are gay and smiling (blooming) and we have very beauteous cheeks.”

فصل تابستان بگوید ای امم ** خویش را بینید چون من بگذرم‌‌

The season of summer says (to them), “O peoples, behold yourselves when I depart!”

تن همی‌‌نازد به خوبی و جمال ** روح پنهان کرده فر و پر و بال‌‌

The body is boasting of its beauty and comeliness, (while) the spirit, having concealed its glory and pinions and plumes,

گویدش ای مزبله تو کیستی ** یک دو روز از پرتو من زیستی‌‌

Says to it, “O dunghill, who art thou? Through my beams thou hast come to life for a day or two.

غنج و نازت می‌‌نگنجد در جهان ** باش تا که من شوم از تو جهان‌‌

Thy coquetry and prideful airs are not contained in the world (go beyond all bounds), (but) wait till I spring up (and escape) from thee!

گرم‌‌دارانت ترا گوری کنند ** طعمه‌‌ی موران و مارانت کنند3270

They whose love warmed thee will dig a grave for thee, they will make thee a morsel for ants and reptiles.

بینی از گند تو گیرد آن کسی ** کاو به پیش تو همی‌‌مردی بسی‌‌

That one who many a time in thy presence was dying (with desire for thee) will hold his nose at thy stench.”

پرتو روح است نطق و چشم و گوش ** پرتو آتش بود در آب جوش‌‌

The beams of the spirit are speech and eye and ear: the beam (effect) of fire is the bubbling in the water.

آن چنان که پرتو جان بر تن است ** پرتو ابدال بر جان من است‌‌

As the beam of the spirit falls on the body, so fall the beams of the Abdál on my soul.

جان جان چون واکشد پا را ز جان ** جان چنان گردد که بی‌‌جان تن بدان‌‌

When the Soul of the soul withdraws from the soul, the soul becomes even as the soulless (lifeless) body. Know (this for sure)!

سر از آن رو می‌‌نهم من بر زمین ** تا گواه من بود در روز دین‌‌3275

For that reason I am laying my head (humbly) on the earth, so that she (the earth) may be my witness on the Day of Judgement.

یوم دین که زلزلت زلزالها ** این زمین باشد گواه حالها

On the Day of Judgement, when she shall be made to quake mightily, this earth will bear witness to all that passed (in and from us);

کاو تحدث جهرة أخبارها ** در سخن آید زمین و خاره‌‌ها

For she will plainly declare what she knows: earth and rocks will begin to speak.

فلسفی منکر شود در فکر و ظن ** گو برو سر را بر آن دیوار زن‌‌

The philosopher, in his (vain) thought and opinion, becomes disbelieving: bid him go and dash his head against that wall!

نطق آب و نطق خاک و نطق گل ** هست محسوس حواس اهل دل‌‌

The speech of water, the speech of earth, and the speech of mud are apprehended by the senses of them that have hearts (the mystics).

فلسفی کاو منکر حنانه است ** از حواس اولیا بیگانه است‌‌3280

The philosopher who disbelieves in the moaning pillar is a stranger to the senses of the saints.

گوید او که پرتو سودای خلق ** بس خیالات آورد در رای خلق‌‌

He says that the beam (influence) of melancholia brings many phantasies into people's minds.

بلکه عکس آن فساد و کفر او ** این خیال منکری را زد بر او

Nay, but the reflexion of his wickedness and infidelity cast this idle fancy of scepticism upon him.

فلسفی مر دیو را منکر شود ** در همان دم سخره‌‌ی دیوی بود

The philosopher comes to deny the existence of the Devil, and at the same time he is possessed by a devil.

گر ندیدی دیو را خود را ببین ** بی‌‌جنون نبود کبودی بر جبین‌‌

If thou hast not seen the Devil, behold thyself: without diabolic possession there is no blueness in the forehead.

هر که را در دل شک و پیچانی است ** در جهان او فلسفی پنهانی است‌‌3285

Whosoever hath doubt and perplexity in his heart, he in this world is a secret philosopher.

می‌‌نماید اعتقاد و گاه گاه ** آن رگ فلسف کند رویش سیاه‌‌

He is professing firm belief, but some time or other that philosophical vein will blacken his face (bring him to shame).

الحذر ای مومنان کان در شماست ** در شما بس عالم بی‌‌منتهاست‌‌

Take care, O ye Faithful! for that (vein) is in you: in you is many an infinite world.

جمله هفتاد و دو ملت در تو است ** وه که روزی آن بر آرد از تو دست‌‌

In thee are all the two-and-seventy sects: woe (to thee) if one day they gain the upper hand over thee.

هر که او را برگ آن ایمان بود ** همچو برگ از بیم این لرزان بود

From fear of this, every one who has the fortune (barg) of (holding) that Faith (Islam) is trembling like a leaf (barg).